To provide an update on the CTRF activities for 2023, the Plant Breeding, and Plant Protection programs have prepared research updates which can be found in the research portion of the CTRF website. By following the links, you can take a look at some of the research that the CTRF is conducting and some of the results from the experiments.
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Mailing Address: CTRF, P.O. Box 322, Tillsonburg, ON N4G 4H5
Telephone: 519-842-8997
Web Address: http://ctrf1.com
June 23, 2023
by CTRF Comments Off on Crop Protection Guide for Flue-Cured -Tobacco now only Available in a Digital Format.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) launched the Ontario Crop Protection Hub, an official online Crop Protection resource for all agricultural commodities produced in Ontario, tobacco included. With this online resource, OMAFRA will no longer publish printed versions of Protection Guides for all crops. For tobacco, the previous Crop Protection Guide was Publication 843 Flue-Cured Tobacco Crop Protection Guide.
The hub (online resource) for tobacco has two components: One component that contains supporting information for flue-cured tobacco, can be accessed using the link :
The second component refers to flue-cured tobacco pest management and crop protection options available for flue-cured tobacco. This information can be accessed using the link.
The OMAFRA Crop Protection Hub for tobacco includes all products registered for use on tobacco in Canada. Contractors may have specific requirements regarding certain control products used on tobacco. Therefore, growers should check with their contractor as to their requirements.
Post prepared and sent by Canadian Tobacco Research Foundation
Mailing Address: CTRF, P.O. Box 322, Tillsonburg, ON N4G 4H5
Telephone: 519-842-8997
Web Address: http://ctrf1.com
May 8, 2023
by CTRF Comments Off on Tobacco Seedlings in Greenhouses and Field Fumigations
The 2023 greenhouse season is progressing, and it has been characterized by few warm days and many cool and cloudy days. Nevertheless, most greenhouses have good seed germination and seedling uniformity. Based on the greenhouses that the CTRF has visited, seedlings between farms do vary in size depending on the type of production method being used and when seeding was started.
Preventative applications of the fungicide for the control of Rhizoctonia Damping-off in greenhouses has occurred, and clipping is underway.
Some of the problems that have been reported so far include algae on media surface (float trays) and chilling injury.
Effects of Algae on Seedlings in Trays
Certain algae present on the surface of tray media can affect seedling emergence and establishment. Two situations are usually seen in these cases, one where the seedlings are not able to emerge through the algae and the other being where the seedlings emerge but cannot establish themselves before succumbing to the algae and dying (as shown below).
Empty cells stunted and brown seedlings caused by algae.
Seedling on the left (light brown in colour) has succumbed to algae.
Cool and cloudy weather conditions are ideal for algae growth, and there are no chemical treatments for algae in tobacco greenhouses. Conditions that are optimum in the greenhouse for rapid seed germination and early seedling growth help seedlings to outpace the algae so that the seedlings become large enough that the algae can no longer affect them. As seedlings grow, the canopy will close over and shade the media surface, therefore, reducing the negative effects of algae. At this time, in some greenhouses, the after-effects that algae can have on young seedlings in trays are evident and are characterized by significant stands reduction and uneven seedling growth.
Chilling Injury
Chilling injury is being observed in some greenhouses. Chilling injury is caused by exposure of the seedlings to a large variation in air temperature, such as when ventilation occurs on a very cool but sunny day or at night when the temperature outside is quite cold and the temperature drops significantly in the greenhouse because the heaters do not have enough capacity to maintain the set temperature.
The initial symptoms of chilling injury are often a bright yellow colour in the growing point of the seedling and upward cupping of the leaves, as shown in the image below.
Seedlings showing chilling injury from a float tray greenhouse.
As the seedlings become larger and the leaves grow out, some leaves become malformed, cupped, and have a distinct yellow/white discoloration. Seedlings do outgrow chilling injury without any ill-effects on the seedlings when transplanted to the field. However, when chilling injury affects the seedling growing point, the plant responds by producing lateral growing points, (suckers), which affects the quality of seedlings.
Clipping Tobacco seedlings in Greenhouses
Currently, clipping of seedlings is taking place in most greenhouses. Be on the lookout for the occurrence of Bacterial Soft Rot (also known as Blackleg), a disease that occurs in both float and dry trays greenhouses during clipping. Bacterial Soft Rot starts when leaf debris fall back onto the seedlings from the clipper, becoming a food source for the bacteria. Factors such as, warm temperatures, high humidity, extended periods of leaf wetness, high nitrogen levels and plant injury (by stress or wounding) contribute to Bacterial Soft Rot spread and outbreaks in greenhouses.
Bacterial Soft Rot infects tobacco seedlings in both dry cell and float trays and has the potential to destroy large numbers of plants in a brief period of time. Initially, the bacteria colonize wounded tissues, organic matter, and debris in trays. Leaves touching the surface of a tray can become infected and the rot can spread through the petioles into the stem of the seedlings.
Seedlings infected with Bacterial Soft Rot.
Leaf debris from clipper that has fallen back on to the seedlings.
Infected seedlings transplanted into the field may not become well established and may not survive. There are no control agents registered for control of Bacterial Soft Rot in tobacco greenhouses. Removal of trays with the diseased seedlings from the greenhouse and replacing them with blank trays is the best control in this situation. Other practices for control include trying to keep leaf debris from the clipper out of the beds, not clipping when the leaves are wet, not over-fertilizing, keeping the foliage of the seedlings as dry as possible, and ventilating the greenhouse adequately to keep the humidity level down in the greenhouse.
Soil fumigation in preparation for the season has started. It is important to remember that cooler temperatures and rainy conditions that have been occurring lately may impact the performance or efficacy of the soil fumigants.
When applying fumigants, ensure that the soil temperature and soil moisture are in accordance with the label requirements/recommendations for the specific soil fumigant that is being used. As we get closer to planting season, please note that different soil fumigants may require different time intervals between fumigation and transplanting.
Please follow the label associated with the soil fumigant that was used and refer to the product label for more information.
Post prepared and sent by Canadian Tobacco Research Foundation
Mailing Address: CTRF, P.O. Box 322, Tillsonburg, ON N4G 4H5
Telephone: 519-842-8997
Web Address: http://ctrf1.com
April 11, 2023
by CTRF Comments Off on CTRF Technical Research Assistant Position Announcement/ Part time
The Canadian Tobacco Research Foundation (CTRF) is seeking a Technical Research Assistant who will assist in the successful implementation of greenhouse, field, harvest, and post-harvest activities associated with the CTRF’s plant Protection, Agronomy and Breeding programs.
Please follow this link for the job description and more information related to the position.
If you are interested in applying for this position, please outline your experience and qualifications in a cover letter and resume, be prepared to provide references, and submit this information to one of the following:
Mail :
P.O. Box 322.
Tillsonburg, ON, N4G 4H5.
Email: maythem.alamery@ctrf1.com
In person :
Unit 3, 500 Highway 3.
Tillsonburg, ON, N4G 4H5.
Post prepared and sent by Canadian Tobacco Research Foundation
Mailing Address: CTRF, P.O. Box 322, Tillsonburg, ON N4G 4H5
Telephone: 519-842-8997
Web Address: http://ctrf1.com
March 17, 2023
by CTRF Comments Off on Protected: 2023 Greenhouse Season: Be On The Lookout
The agronomic performance data for the registered varieties grown in 2022 can now be viewed on the CTRF Plant Breeding website.
The CTRF established plots of the most commonly grown flue-cured tobacco varieties in Ontario to compare performance for 2022. A two-year (2021 + 2022) and three-year (2020 + 2021 +2022) average of these varieties are also presented. If you have questions about this handout, please contact the CTRF.
Post prepared and sent by Canadian Tobacco Research Foundation
Mailing Address: CTRF, P.O. Box 322, Tillsonburg, ON N4G 4H5
Telephone: 519-842-8997
Web Address: http://ctrf1.com
March 13, 2023
by CTRF Comments Off on Protected: Highlights from the Annual Meeting of the Ontario Recommending Committee for Flue-Cured Tobacco held on February 2023
The CTRF is holding an “Open House” on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon. Please stop by and look at the cured leaf samples of registered and promising varieties that will be on display. Handouts on the performance of the registered varieties will be available. The CTRF’s plant pathology and agronomy programs will have a display in CTRF’s lab that highlights some of the research that was conducted this year. Click here for the program and directions.
Post prepared and sent by Canadian Tobacco Research Foundation
Mailing Address: CTRF, P.O. Box 322, Tillsonburg, ON N4G 4H5
Telephone: 519-842-8997
Web Address: http://ctrf1.com
October 31, 2022
by CTRF Comments Off on Protected: CTRF Program Updates – October 2022
The majority of the crop was planted in late May and early June and crops are off to a good start, with cultivation now starting to occur. Problems observed in greenhouses this spring include chill injury, chemical injury, pH in float water, spiral roots, dry cells, and algae. In the field, there have not been many problems reported yet. However, there have been reported cases of plants showing damage due to environmental stresses, particularly low night temperatures soon after transplanting. As a result, we have started to see in certain fields plants that are forming suckers.
Figure A &B. Sucker formation in early stages of Tobacco transplants.
There have been a few growers asking about tray sanitation now that transplanting is finished. It is important to mention that unless Styrofoam trays are properly sterilized following use each year, it is not uncommon for fungi to build up in the trays and infect the plants. The CTRF has encountered Black Root Rot in Styrofoam trays over the past years when steam has not been used to disinfect them. As of today, sterilization of Styrofoam trays with steam is the only practice that will effectively control Black Root Rot. For more information on Black Root Rot and its control, please refer to the technical bulletin entitled “Tobacco Pests and Disorders in the Field – Black Root Rot” posted in the Plant Protection area of this website. Please see the technical bulletin “Tobacco Pests and Disorders in the Greenhouse-Damping Off” for more information.
Post prepared and sent by Canadian Tobacco Research Foundation
Mailing Address: CTRF, P.O. Box 322, Tillsonburg, ON N4G 4H5
